KaWaiAwaAwa
Jedi Master
Who or what was the Austronesian demi-god Maui? What do the legends attempt to convey?
Who or what was the Austronesian demi-god Maui? What do the legends attempt to convey?
I mean a literal concrete foundation btw.You are correct. I did not introduce myself. I will in a moment, working on the concrete foundation of a retaining wall right now.
I have been following the Cassiopaea Experiment pretty much since it began (or when it was available online in the 90's).
But that is not a proper introduction.
Hold on . . .
Hi KaWaiAwaAwa, consider it asked :)I can easily expand on the Maui question. Just let me know.
Can you explain who exactly Maui is in the Austronesian beliefs, what attracted your interest to this deity and what information you have already found yourself about the topic? As you may know, this is a research forum and we always aim to investigate each topic ourselves first.
Thanks. I'll take a look. That's one source I haven't looked at.Hi KaWaiAwaAwa, consider it asked :)
One place where such topics are discussed in an (admittedly broad) fashion is the book History of World Mythology by E.J. Michael Witzel. If you are familiar enough with the myths of Maui it will probably be easy for you to find his place in what the book calls the Laurasian mythical genealogy. This (and other) books on human prehistory are discussed in this thread.
However, in recent times, I have become the science advisor for a non-profit who looks into these things, and so I was wondering about alot of it.
I will post more later, but in short, Maui appears to reference a force or natural power which gives rise to his escapades (which eclipse those of Hercules and other Greek Heroes).
The Milky Way was known as the “Long Fish” (Ika-roa) or the “Long Shark” (Mangoroa), or “The Fish of Maui” (Te Ika a Maui).
Rohiṇī (रोहिणी, ‘ruddy’) is the name of the conspicuously reddish star, α Tauri or Aldebaran, and denotes the group of the Hyades, α θ γ δ ε Tauri. Its identification seems absolutely assured by the legend of Prajāpati in the Aitareya-brāhmaṇa. He is there represented as pursuing his daughter with incestuous intention... Prajāpati is clearly Orion.
“Grant, oh grant me thy hidden fire,
O Banyan Tree.
Perform an incantation,
Utter a prayer
To the Banyan Tree.
Kindle a fire in the dust
Of the Banyan Tree.”
-Translation of ancient Polynesian chant.
Mahuika had lost much of her power, but still she was not giving up. She took her very last toenail and threw it at Māui in anger. The toenail of fire missed Māui and flew into the trees, planting itself in the Mahoe tree, the Tōtara, the Patete, the Pukatea, and the Kaikōmako trees. These trees cherished and held onto the fire of Mahuika, considering it a great gift.
…among the dynastic Egyptians Orion was known as Sah, the "toe-star," and later Sahu, the "toe stars." It was an appellation reflecting the fact that one of its stars, Rigel (Beta Orionis), sticks out in front of the other stars, as if it is leading Orion across the southern sky…
The Hervey Islands say that after Maui fished up the islands his hook was thrown into the heavens and became the curved tail of the constellation of stars which we know as "The Scorpion."
Well that's not a Layman's take!Hi KaWaiAwaAwa,
Probably like many non-islanders, with kids anyway, I'm embarrassed to say that the first thing that came to mind on reading your question was the image below
View attachment 41125
However from a more 'scientific' standpoint and your mention of heroes, personally found much food for thought in this book (recommended somewhere here on the forum);
Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Also articles such as this;
The 12 labors of Hercules - a journey through constellations - COGNIARCHAE
The twelve labors of Hercules clearly relate to the twelve signs of the zodiac. This is the attempt to identify all of them, and at the same time provide a deeper insight in the origins of this myth.www.cogniarchae.com
And despite having spent time on Oahu, unfortunately most nights were in Honolulu such that I don't remember many stars being visible... therefore being Australian my primary exposure to Polynesian mythology is limited to the Māori - although similiar celestial provenance does seem feasible?
Interesting also, to me anyway, linguistic similarities relative to such dominant asterisms such as the Pleiades, Matariki strikingly reminiscent of the Hindu Matrikas for example, also that Maui's wife/consort is named as Rohe / Hina, uncannily similiar to Rohini - coincidentally the 'wife' of a Hindu 'god' or alternatively;
And so on, where perhaps as 'Heroes' go, 'Hercules';
View attachment 41128
'Ulysses';
View attachment 41129
Or 'Siva', with his 'gift' of fire;
View attachment 41131
And relationship to the sacred Banyan;
Could provide a direction;
A 'toe' of fire plausibly red?
Whereby, personally, Maui's great 'Hook' would then become a dominant marker such that the 'Cook' Island tradition would also be a 'fit' to my pattern seeking mind;
The celestial orientation linking 'Maui', once more, to 'Sah';
View attachment 41132
Or 'Horus';
View attachment 41133
Perhaps also giving context to the detail of Maui smearing 'blood' upon his hook (Antares), 'raising' the sky, the whole Earth being his fishing 'line', etc?
Dennis Mammana: Orion, Scorpius in a Rivalry of Cosmic Proportions | Outdoors | Noozhawk
Gazing into the dark, starry heavens of a cool springtime evening is a delightful and tranquil experience. One of the most dramatic events we may witnesswww.noozhawk.com
Anyway, that'd be my guess as a layman Pākehā?
Looking forward keenly to your contribution
OK, very well done.Hi KaWaiAwaAwa,
Probably like many non-islanders, with kids anyway, I'm embarrassed to say that the first thing that came to mind on reading your question was the image below
View attachment 41125
However from a more 'scientific' standpoint and your mention of heroes, personally found much food for thought in this book (recommended somewhere here on the forum);
Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Also articles such as this;
The 12 labors of Hercules - a journey through constellations - COGNIARCHAE
The twelve labors of Hercules clearly relate to the twelve signs of the zodiac. This is the attempt to identify all of them, and at the same time provide a deeper insight in the origins of this myth.www.cogniarchae.com
And despite having spent time on Oahu, unfortunately most nights were in Honolulu such that I don't remember many stars being visible... therefore being Australian my primary exposure to Polynesian mythology is limited to the Māori - although similiar celestial provenance does seem feasible?
Interesting also, to me anyway, linguistic similarities relative to such dominant asterisms such as the Pleiades, Matariki strikingly reminiscent of the Hindu Matrikas for example, also that Maui's wife/consort is named as Rohe / Hina, uncannily similiar to Rohini - coincidentally the 'wife' of a Hindu 'god' or alternatively;
And so on, where perhaps as 'Heroes' go, 'Hercules';
View attachment 41128
'Ulysses';
View attachment 41129
Or 'Siva', with his 'gift' of fire;
View attachment 41131
And relationship to the sacred Banyan;
Could provide a direction;
A 'toe' of fire plausibly red?
Whereby, personally, Maui's great 'Hook' would then become a dominant marker such that the 'Cook' Island tradition would also be a 'fit' to my pattern seeking mind;
The celestial orientation linking 'Maui', once more, to 'Sah';
View attachment 41132
Or 'Horus';
View attachment 41133
Perhaps also giving context to the detail of Maui smearing 'blood' upon his hook (Antares), 'raising' the sky, the whole Earth being his fishing 'line', etc?
Dennis Mammana: Orion, Scorpius in a Rivalry of Cosmic Proportions | Outdoors | Noozhawk
Gazing into the dark, starry heavens of a cool springtime evening is a delightful and tranquil experience. One of the most dramatic events we may witnesswww.noozhawk.com
Anyway, that'd be my guess as a layman Pākehā?
Looking forward keenly to your contribution